Yale has over 2,000 courses to choose from; a world of endless possibilities awaits every first-year class. So with all these options, what do we end up choosing and what classes are the best? For some people the best classes are the ones that point them towards their majors while for others their favorite courses end up being completely unrelated to their primary academic interests. I talked to a few friends about their favorite classes, now that we are nearly one year into our Yale experiences.
Ava
Major: Psychology
Favorite class you’ve taken this year: My favorite class this year was “Introduction to Psychology”.
Why: I was on the fence about being a psychology major until I took this class, as I had never taken a formal psychology class before. My professor, Avram Holmes, is able to present information in a fascinating way with great examples and explanations. I also enjoyed the writings we would do in class, as they would tie class concepts to our everyday lives.
Henry
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Favorite class you’ve taken this year: My favorite class this year has been CS 223, “Data Structures and Programming Techniques” which teaches programming in C and different ways to write more efficient code.
Why: First of all, I really liked the professor, he was really nice. I also have always enjoyed computer science so the problem solving involved with all the P-sets is fun for me. I also think it’s a well-organized class because you can always refer back to the lectures digitally and all the notes are kept in one place so it’s easy to stay on top of everything.
Nathaniel
Major: History
Favorite class you’ve taken this year: My favorite class this year was my literature seminar this semester, “Directed Studies: Literature”
Why: I think our readings are very interesting and our class is student-run; our professor will sometimes just kind of sit back and let us go. It is a very well-rounded seminar, lots of people contribute and have a lot to say and I always come out learning a lot.
Kalisa
Major: Earth and Planetary Sciences - Solid Earth Track
Favorite class you’ve taken this year: My favorite class this school year was probably “Dynamic Earth” with Professor David Evans, which focused on the geological processes our planet undergoes.
Why: It was my favorite mostly because I’ve always been interested in what makes the earth and things like earthquakes, but it also brought in a whole lot of new knowledge about where I’m from and the geological processes that formed my hometown.
Larry
Major: Philosophy and Political Science
Favorite class you’ve taken this year: My favorite class this year has been “Perspectives on Human Nature”
Why: It has been my favorite because it mixes contemporary empirical approaches and historical philosophical ideas on human nature.
Yale’s course offerings are incredible, and even this small sample size demonstrates that our classes are a highlight of the Yale experience. Whether it’s an entry level psychology class or a directed studies course, Yale really has something for everyone.
